2014 Mazda3 – Full details and Official pictures with the new generation Japanese compact

2014 Mazda3 has been officially unveiled, presented by the Japanese company as a “game changer”.. The compact Japanese model is 60 kilograms (130 lbs) lighter than its predecessor, has a more aggressive design and comes with SKYACTIV technology and will be available as a 5-door hatchback and 4-door sedan.

2014 Mazda3

Mazda finally released, after a long series of spy shots and teasers, the first images and information of its segment C model. The new 2014 Mazda3 will be revealed in a live event in New York, London, Istanbul, Sankt Petersburg and Melbourne.

2014 Mazda3 – Design & Engine & Price

The press release reveals the new generation Japanese compact, animated by the same KODO Design – “Soul of Motion,” already inaugurated with the current Mazda6 and CX-5. The new design philosophy brings a set of taillights something more pointy and elongated, similar to those from Mazda6. The grille is also new, as most of the front and rear lines, 2014 Mazda3 having a drag coefficient of just 0.27 cX.

Although increases in size, the new 2014 Mazda3 is 60 kilograms (130 lbs) lighter than the current generation. All thanks to the use of the new SKYACTIV chassis built from high strength steel, but much lighter. The Japanese say that even structural rigidity increased by 30% compared to the current model.

The 2014 Mazda3 interior will be one of the quietest offered so far by Mazda and guarantees a new philosophy of design that separates everything into two areas with the center console: a cozy one dedicated to the passenger and a driver-oriented one. The latter receives the new Active Driving Display, a highly adjustable seats and a steering wheel-mounted further down.

The windshield has been moved 100 mm (4 in) further back to increase the visibility, the seats were redesigned to better absorb vibrations and the multimedia system uses now a 7-inch touch screen and reconfigured access buttons. The infotainment system has Bluetooth / USB / AUX connectivity and internet via smartphone, ensuring access to radio, location and other useful applications.

2014 Mazda3 engine range

The engine range for Europe will consist of three petrol units and one diesel. The entry-level will be provided by a new SKYACTIV-G 1.5-liter petrol engine and 100 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and 160 Nm (118 lb-ft) at 4,000 rpm. The new unit guarantees a sprint from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 10.8 seconds.

The SKYACTIV-G 2.0-liter petrol unit will be offered in two versions of power. The first will have 120 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and delivers a sprint from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 8.9 seconds. Maximum speed will stop at 195 km/h (121 mph). The second version will have 165 horsepower, enough acceleration to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 8.2 seconds and a top speed of 210 km/h (130 mph).

The only diesel option is the SKYACTIV-D 2.2-liter engine with 150 horsepower at 4,500 rpm. Acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 8.1 seconds, and the top speed is also 210 km/h (130 mph).

All engines will be available with a standard start-stop system and are coupled with a six-speed manual gearbox. Also the SKYACTIV-Drive six-speed automatic transmission is offered as an optional choice.

2014 Mazda3 is equipped with several safety systems such as High Beam Control, Blind Spot Monitoring, Forward Obstruction Warning, Smart City Brake Support and Radar Cruise Control.

2014 Mazda3 prices will be announced later this year, scheduled to debut this fall.

Mazda introduced its all-new Mazda3 hatchback at several locations around the world. Hundreds of journalists, bloggers and social media attended a fanfare-filled series of events, which took place simultaneously at five locations including three European cities.

London, Istanbul and St. Petersburg were chosen (along with New York and Melbourne) for their insightful, spirited and stylish character, which nicely mirrors the properties of its new five-door compact. Mazda’s top-selling model of all time becomes the third member of a new generation featuring the automaker’s “KODO – Soul of Motion” design and its full range of convention-defying SKYACTIV Technology. The new Mazda3 thereby joins its award-winning siblings: the Mazda CX-5, a compact SUV launched in 2012, and the mid-sized Mazda6.

“Everything about the all-new Mazda3 is exciting, from the way it looks and feels to its dynamic performance, nimble responsiveness, reliability and operating costs,” says Mazda Motor Europe President and CEO Jeff Guyton. “We already have big expectations for this model’s success in terms of sales, but I suspect it may even surprise us.”

“With more than 3.5 million vehicles sold globally, the Mazda3 is the brand’s best-selling and most recognizable name plate, and its redesign for 2014 shows just how much attention to detail and care we put into this important vehicle,” said Jim O’Sullivan, president and CEO, Mazda North American Operations. “SKYACTIV TECHNOLOGY and KODO have performed as advertised and received critical acclaim, with even more technologies and materials to be introduced with the 2014 Mazda3. On the heels of the launch of the 2013 CX-5 crossover SUV last fall and the 2014 Mazda6 early this year, this is an exciting time for Mazda, and we’re only getting started.”